<p>Hi all -- My son is an incoming h.s. junior and we're asking this so we can plan for next summer. Figured many of you have kids in MT summer programs at colleges now so it's a good time to ask.</p>
<p>What are the best programs that feature competitive admission and aren't just places for parents to throw money at colleges for a summer program? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Oops. Found out there’s already a thread on this. So sorry! How do I delete this thread? TIA.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should base how effective and good a summer program is based on how competitive it is to get in. For example, CMU is a great pre-college program and is not that competitive to get into. My kid went 8 summers to Stagedoor Manor and anyone can attend. Let me say that my D has MANY friends from this summer program who went onto the tippy top college BFA and BA theater programs and who are now professional actors, many who have been on Broadway, National Tours, Off Broadway, film, TV, etc. The program was fantastic and worth every penny in my view even though it was not competitive to be admitted. Just saying.</p>
<p>Good to know. Thanks. I’ve just been warned by other parents to look out for some non-competitive programs that are just taking parents’ money. This clearly isn’t one of those programs!</p>
<p>I second what soozievt says…my D has been going to Stagedoor for 6 summers, and although you don’t have to audition to get into the camp, you audition for parts once you are there, and it is very competitive. My D wouldn’t go anywhere else. Fair warning, though, the applications for NEXT summer (summer of 2013) are already out, and the camp will likely be full by this September. So if you are interested, you need to look into it quickly.</p>
<p>Wow, here I thought we were way ahead on this in terms of looking around before applications are out. THANKS for the heads-up!</p>
<p>Stagedoor is VERY expensive and they don’t give scholarships. Yes it is a great camp and I also know kids who have gone there that aren’t very talented at all. I checked into it for my daughter and I know she would have loved that (and French woods) but we would have had to pay airfare too and the expense was just way too much. just sayin’</p>
<p>Ah, good to know. Thanks, Supportive!</p>
<p>Great opportunity, but at the cost of an entire college year in Canada? Need to start buying lottery tickets!</p>
<p>Our daughter attended Oklahoma City University’s summer high school MT intensive and also mPulse at University of Michigan. She was also accepted to Broadway Theatre Project (BTP) which has now split into two groups, the other being TPAP. I think any of these programs are wonderful and are some you could consider.</p>
<p>My daughter did the Baldwin Wallace summer intensive, which is only a week. She loved it and was thrilled to work with Vicky Bussert. Also accepted to OCU but really wanted to go to BW’s.</p>
<p>I should have said these were attended in different years! She went to one program per summer:)</p>
<p>Stagedoor has always sounded fantastic to me, but like some other posters, it is far too cost prohibitive for us.</p>
<p>We couldn’t afford any pre-college program except on major scholarship (my older D did land a generous scholarship for a visual arts pre college program). </p>
<p>But here’s an idea for those of you who live near theatre rich cities or Shakespeare Festivals/professional theatres: </p>
<p>My own kids did a professional theatre’s own classical acting day camp, which cost considerably less than any pre college program ($1100/5 weeks for the one we used)–This was by audition, somewhat competitive. They learned a zillion things–voice, movement, classical text, improv, etc etc, in a warm nurturing environment, taught by a professional working Shakespearian director. Bonus: If you do a camp with a professional theatre, you can be given opportunities to audition for parts on the mainstage, and at the very least, you form connections with professionals in theatre.</p>
<p>I’m only saying this as another option that is not discussed as much in this forum, and that is much less expensive. If I had more money, I would definitely consider a program like Stagedoor or CMU. However, particularly in these tough economic times, I do think cost is a consideration.</p>
<p>I am also thinking about which program my D should attend next summer, but I guess I’m trying to determine what will be achieved by attending one of the big national ones.
She never went to a PA camp because, up until high school, she wouldn’t go away from home even for one night. She attended BAA and Making it on Broadway (because I could go with her, of course). The past 2 summers she has been doing an audition-only Young Artists Program at a local regional theatre.
I believe that we already know that she will be competitive for college auditions, so she doesn’t necessarily need that aspect of a program. I may be wrong, but I also don’t think that it’s worth lots of money just to be cast in a show somewhere far from home (when we are lucky enough for her to be able to work with excellent professionals here).</p>
<p>So, to sum up my question: what have any of you felt that your child gained from attending one of the big programs (e.g. CMU, Cherubs, MPulse, OCU, etc)? I don’t want my D to miss out on a truly transformative experience, but I also don’t want to spend a lot of money simply on a fun experience.</p>
<p>Stagedoor has a documentary out that might be helpful to those considering it. There is also a book, which I think is called Stagedoor as well. WAY too much money for us, but do know someone who went for a couple summers and loved it. They always signed up for the next summer ASAP b/c spots fill up.</p>
<p>Yes, there is a documentary movie about Stagedoor Manor called Stagedoor (it is not put out by the program!). Truth be told, my kid, who was 14 at the time, is in it. There is also a book about Stagedoor that is called Theater Geek: The Real Life Drama of a Summer at Stagedoor Manor, the Famous Performing Arts Camp, by Mickey Rapkin. It too is not put out by Stagedoor. </p>
<p>Anyway, this thread is a good indicator that neither the competitiveness to get into a summer program, nor the cost, are the best indicators as to the worthiness of a summer program for a child. </p>
<p>I will add that for MY kid, her experiences at Stagedoor Manor were very significant in her growth and are some of the defining moments of her youth.</p>
<p>“Anyway, this thread is a good indicator that neither the competitiveness to get into a summer program, nor the cost, are the best indicators as to the worthiness of a summer program for a child.”</p>
<p>Agreed. And though I"m sure Stagedoor and others are wonderful - the connections later on are great as well - my own kids’ experience at our nearby professional theatre’s summer day camp was also transformative. When younger, my son landed two mainstage (equity) roles in part because he was in this camp, and my daughter not only learned a great deal (as did my son), but also got a strong letter of recommendation from a well known theatre professional who knew her work through the camp. My kids also got great advice from working professionals. Again there are many paths your kid can take. If you don’t have the budget for an expensive overnight program - or if you want a slightly different experience - then I’d strongly recommend a professional theatre’s camp, if there is one by you.</p>
<p>It’s great that your kids had such programs near you. That is not quite the case in all areas of the country!</p>
<p>Merlehay: We love OCU PAA! My daughter went to OCU’s summer program twice, once after her sophomore year, and the second time, last summer. It was a wonderful experience - she had a lot of fun, met some great new lifelong friends, learned SO much, but most importantly, she learned a lot about herself. The first week of the first summer she was crippled with insecurity . . . “everyone is so amazing Mom” and “but not me” was the unsaid phrase. She was ultimately able to find her legs and see her talent and got her confidence back. But the kid I picked up from the airport was different . . . she was motivated to reach out for (different) help so she could get better and do the work needed to get ready for college auditions. She realized the talent level that she would be competing with and I believe that it made her stronger. Last summer she was prepared for all of the experiences with a different lens and grew tremendously as well. OCU’s program was just right for us, financially, artistically, competitively . . . today I bet my daughter would say that the greatest thing about attending would be the relationships she formed with faculty and the other attendees . . . I agree wholeheartedly, but I would also add that it helped her realize that she was not big fish in a little pond but a little fish in a very big pond and so swam harder. :0)</p>
<p>My D and I were chatting the other day about what a talented group she was with last year, and so a side note on the talent level (and motivational factor) of seniors and where they’re attending this fall from D’s session last summer . . . this is off the top of my head and what I can remember from my D telling me: 2 UMich, 1 Elon, 2 NYU Tisch, 4 or 5 OCU, 1 Syracuse, 1 Belmont (VP I think), 1 UArts, 1 CCM. There may be more that I don’t know, just thought it would be telling as to the quality of kids in the program.</p>
<p>This might be a little off topic, but I would like to lament here the ending of the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts because of budget cuts. It was a fantastic five week summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors that incorporated theater, music, dance, writing and visual arts. It was by audition, but most importantly, it was free, so attracted talented students, including inner city kids, who could not afford to go to one of the expensive summer camps. Both my sons went and it was transformative. I know other states had similar programs that were based on Pennsylvania’s, but I’m not sure how many have survived all the cuts to public education nation-wide.</p>